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Song of Acupoints on the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian

The acupoints of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian begin with Shangyang (LI 1), followed by Erjian (LI 2) and Sanjian (LI 3), with Hegu (LI 4) located within. Yangxi (LI 5), Pianli (LI 6), and Wenliu (LI 7) are arranged in sequence; Xialian (LI 8), Shanglian (LI 9), and Shousanli (LI 10) extend outward. Quchi (LI 11), Zhouli (LI 12), Wuli (LI 13), Bi'nao (LI 14), Jianyu (LI 15), and Jugu (LI 6) rise successively. Tianding (LI 16) and Futu (LI 18) connect to Heliao (LI 17), ending with Yingxiang (LI 20), totaling twenty acupoints.

Shangyang (LI 1) [also known as Jueyang]: Located on the radial side of the index finger, beside the corner of the nail, at a distance resembling the width of a leek leaf. This is the Jing-Well point (Jing-Well point: where the meridian qi first emerges) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 1 fen; retain needle for the duration of one exhalation; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Chest fullness, asthma, cough; febrile diseases with anhidrosis; tinnitus and deafness; alternating chills and fever, malaria; dry mouth, swelling of the mandible; toothache, blindness; aversion to cold; pain and swelling in the shoulder, back, limbs, and arms radiating to the Clavicle area (Quepen). Moxibustion: 3 zhu. Use cross-point selection (treat left side for right-sided disease, and vice versa); recovery occurs in approximately the time it takes to eat a meal. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Taixi (KI 3), it treats cold-type malaria effectively. *Qiankun Shengyi* states: This belongs to the Ten Jing-Well points. In cases of stroke or sudden fall, sudden coma, profuse phlegm, unconsciousness, locked jaw, and inability to take medicine or water, urgently prick this point along with Shaoshang (LU 11), Zhongchong (PC 9), and Shaochong (HT 9) using a three-edged needle to promote blood and qi circulation. This is a miraculous point for emergency resuscitation.

Erjian (LI 2) [also known as Jianggu]: Located in the depression on the medial side anterior to the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger. This is the Ying-Spring point (Ying-Spring point: where the meridian qi flows like a spring) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 3 fen; retain needle for six exhalations; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Swelling of the chin, throat obstruction (Houbi - sore throat with difficulty swallowing); shoulder and back pain; rhinorrhea and epistaxis; toothache; yellow eyes, dry mouth; facial paralysis (mouth and eye deviation); difficulty eating; chills and shivering; cold damage with fluid retention. *Yulong Fu* states: Excellent for treating toothache. *Xi Hong Fu* states: Combined with Yangxi (LI 5), it treats toothache, lower back pain, and throat obstruction. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Yinxi (HT 6), it can unblock chills and aversion to cold. *Tongxuan Zhiyao Fu* states: Treats dim vision. *Tianxing Mijue* states: Combined with Zusanli (ST 36), it treats toothache, headache, and throat obstruction.

Sanjian (LI 3) [also known as Shaogu]: Located in the depression on the medial side posterior to the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger. This is the Shu-Stream point (Shu-Stream point: where the meridian qi pours through) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 3 fen; retain needle for three exhalations; moxibustion: 2 zhu. Indications: Rhinorrhea and febrile diseases; throat obstruction with a sensation of obstruction in the throat; caries pain in the lower teeth; lethargy; chest and abdominal fullness; borborygmus and watery diarrhea; alternating chills and fever, malaria; cracked lips, dry mouth; asthma, eye pain; susceptibility to fright; alternating chills and fever with fluid retention and excessive salivation. *Xi Hong Fu* states: Combined with Shenshu (BL 23), it effectively eliminates back wind-dampness and consumptive disorders. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Cuanzhu (BL 2), it treats blurry vision. *Kuaijie Fangshi* states: Treats body heat, asthma, dry mouth, and urgent eye discomfort.

Hegu (LI 4) [also known as Hukou]: Located in the depression between the metacarpal bones of the thumb and index finger. This is the Yuan-Source point (Yuan-Source point: where the meridian qi passes and stays) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 3 fen; retain needle for six exhalations; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Severe thirst in cold damage, floating pulse indicating exterior syndrome; fever and aversion to cold; headache and stiff neck; wind-rash; alternating chills and fever, malaria; febrile disease with anhidrosis; unilateral or bilateral headache; facial swelling, corneal opacity; inability to close lips; aphonia; locked jaw; pain in waist and spine radiating from flaccidity; pediatric tonsillar hypertrophy (Ru'e). Another view: It can expel a dead fetus. For pregnant women, tonifying Hegu (LI 4) causes abortion. *Qianjin Fang* states: If the pulse is absent or weak postpartum, needle Hegu (LI 4) to a depth of 3 fen and urgently apply tonification. *Shennong Jing* states: Treats epistaxis, blurred vision, toothache, throat obstruction, and scabies; moxibustion 3 to 7 zhu. *Lanjiang Fu* states: For cold damage with anhidrosis, reduce Hegu (LI 4) and tonify Fuliu (KI 7); if sweating is excessive, tonify Hegu (LI 4) and reduce Fuliu (KI 7), yielding miraculous effects. *Xi Hong Fu* states: Combined with Taichong (LR 3), it treats severe pain extending from the hand to the shoulder and spine. Also combined with Quchi (LI 11), it treats impaired movement of both hands. Furthermore, if Jingming (BL 1) is ineffective for eye diseases, Hegu (LI 4) and Guangming (GB 37) are indispensable. Additionally, for cold cough, first tonify Hegu (LI 4), and simultaneously needle and reduce Sanyinjiao (SP 6). *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Tianfu (LU 3), it treats epistaxis. *Tianxing Mijue* states: Combined with Sanyinjiao (SP 6), it treats spleen-related blood and qi disorders. Also combined with Neiting (ST 44), it treats cold-type malaria, facial swelling, and borborygmus. *Si Zong Xue Ge* states: "Face and mouth issues are gathered at Hegu." *Qianjin Shiyi Xue* states: Quchi (LI 11) combined with Hegu (LI 4) can thoroughly treat headaches. Ma Danyang's Twelve Tianxing Points Song states: Headache and facial swelling, malaria with alternating heat and cold, body heat and sweating, dim vision, dental caries and epistaxis, locked jaw preventing speech; needle to a depth of 5 fen, and the illness will naturally resolve.

Yangxi (LI 5) [also known as Zhongkui]: Located on the radial side of the wrist crease, in the depression between the two tendons. This is the Jing-River point (Jing-River point: where the meridian qi flows like a river) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 3 fen; retain needle for seven exhalations; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Manic talk, laughter, seeing ghosts; febrile disease with vexation; heat in the palm; anhidrosis; red, ulcerated eyes and corneal opacity; jue-pattern headache; chest fullness and dyspnea; cold-heat phlegm-malaria with vomiting of foam; throat obstruction, tinnitus, toothache; convulsions causing inability to raise the elbow and arm; crusts and scabies. *Xi Hong Fu* states: Combined with Erjian (LI 2), it treats toothache, lower back pain, and throat obstruction. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Jiaoxi (SP 4), it treats palpitations and anxiety. Also, combined with Jianliao (TE 14), it eliminates extreme heat from urticaria.

Pianli (LI 6): Located 3 cun distal to the wrist crease; it is the Luo-Connecting point of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, diverging to the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Needle depth: 3 fen; retain needle for seven exhalations; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Cold-heat malaria, mania with excessive talking, blurred vision, tinnitus, throat obstruction, dry mouth and throat, epistaxis, toothache, anhidrosis. *Biaoyou Fu* states: Needling Pianli (LI 6) promotes urination and treats adult ascites (water gu).

Wenliu (LI 7) [also known as Nizhu, also known as She Tou]: Located on the forearm, 5 cun proximal to the wrist crease in average adults, 6 cun in robust adults. (*Mingtang* states: Between 5 and 6 cun proximal to the wrist crease.) This is the Xi-Cleft point (Xi-Cleft point: where the meridian qi gathers deeply) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 3 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Hiccups in cold damage, belching and diaphragmatic Qi stagnation; cold-heat headache; manic talk, laughter, seeing ghosts; vomiting foam; swelling and pain of mouth and tongue; throat obstruction and facial edema; borborygmus and abdominal pain; swelling and pain in four limbs; inability to raise the shoulder. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Qimen (LR 14), it treats stiff neck in cold damage.

Xialian (LI 8): Located 4 cun distal to Quchi (LI 11), below the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, 1 cun proximal to Shanglian (LI 9), diverging obliquely from the muscle boundary. Needle depth: 5 fen; retain needle for five exhalations; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Consumptive disorders with manic talk; headache and bi-syndrome; undigested stool diarrhea; lower abdominal fullness; hematuria; intestinal Qi disorder; pallor; painful abdominal masses; indigestion; asthma with salivation; mastitis. This point primarily clears heat from the Stomach, with indications similar to Qichong (ST 12), Zusanli (ST 36), and Shangjuxu (ST 37).

Shanglian (LI 9): Located 1 cun distal to Zusanli (ST 36), 3 cun distal to Quchi (LI 11), with its branch diverging obliquely to meet the Yangming Meridian. Needle depth: 5 fen; moxibustion: 5 zhu. Indications: Wind-headache, chest pain and asthma; hemiplegia; borborygmus and dysuria; Large Intestine Qi stagnation; numbness of hands and feet. This point primarily clears heat from the Stomach, with indications similar to Qichong (ST 12), Zusanli (ST 36), and Xiajuxu (ST 39).

Shousanli (LI 10) [also known as Sanli]: Located 2 cun distal to Quchi (LI 11), at the end of the raised muscle belly, which rises upon pressure. Needle depth: 3 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Stroke with facial deviation; immobility of hands and feet; five excesses and deficiency leading to emaciation; cholera with urinary incontinence; aphonia; toothache and cheek swelling; scrofula; hand bi-syndrome with numbness. *Xi Hong Fu* states: This point treats lower back pain extending to the umbilicus without relief; needle until a heavy/numb sensation is felt, then apply reduction; no need to retain needle after obtaining Deqi. Also, needling Zusanli (ST 36) up and down the limbs treats food stagnation and Qi masses. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Shaohai (HT 3), it treats arm numbness and stiffness. *Tongxuan Zhiyao Fu* states: Specifically treats shoulder and back pain.

Quchi (LI 11): Located at the lateral end of the elbow crease when the elbow is flexed; obtain by placing hands on the chest. This is the He-Sea point (He-Sea point: where the meridian qi enters deeply) of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Needle depth: 7 fen; retain needle for seven exhalations; moxibustion: 3 zhu (another view says 100 zhu). Indications: Chills in cold damage, lingering residual heat; chest vexation, fullness, heat, and thirst; vertigo and ear pain; scrofula and throat obstruction preventing speech; spasms and epilepsy; ankle-wrapping wind; redness and swelling of arms; elbow pain; hemiplegia; wind-pathogen causing skin moisture; arm pain; flaccid tendons and weakness; difficulty flexing and extending; dry skin, crusts, and scabies; amenorrhea in women. *Shennong Jing* states: Treats pain and weakness in arms and elbows, hemiplegia, fever, and chest vexation/fullness; moxibustion 14 zhu. *Yulong Fu* states: Combined with Renzhong (GV 26), it treats flaccidity and collapse. Combined with Chize (LU 5), it treats elbow pain. *Biaoyou Fu* states: Combined with Jianjing (GB 21), Zhen Quan treated arm pain and then shot an arrow (indicating efficacy). *Baizheng Fu* states: Reaching far to Yanglingquan (GB 34), it treats hemiplegia. Also, combined with Shaochong (HT 9), it treats fever effectively. *Xi Hong Fu* states: Combined with Hegu (LI 4), it treats impaired movement of both hands. *Qianjin Fang* states: Treats goiter, bad Qi, and various rashes; moxibustion according to age. It is also one of the Thirteen Ghost Points, named Guichen; for hundred-evil mania, use fire needle at the twelfth session. *Qianjin Shiyi Xue* states: Combined with Hegu (LI 4), it thoroughly treats headaches. Qin Chengzu's *Mingtang* states: Treats generalized wind-rash and scabies in adults and children. Ma Danyang's Twelve Tianxing Points Song states: Good for elbow pain, hemiplegia with inability to grasp, inability to draw a bow, arm flaccidity preventing combing hair, severe throat obstruction, continuous fever, generalized wind-xeroderma; pricking these points brings immediate cure.

Zhouli (LI 12): Located in the depression on the lateral aspect of the greater tubercle of the humerus, parallel to Tianjing (SI 10), 1.4 cun apart. Needle depth: 3 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Elbow bi-syndrome, arm pain preventing elevation, numbness, lethargy.

Wuli (LI 13): Located 3 cun proximal to the elbow, in the center of the large vessel running medially. Another view places it 5 cun distal to Tianfu (LU 3). **Contraindicated for needling.** Moxibustion: 3 zhu (one view says 10 zhu). *Yuban Pian* states: Approaching Wuli (LI 13) and stopping midway, five times only; five insertions exhaust the Qi of the Zang organs. *Xiao Zhen Jie* states: "Those who deprive Yin die" refers to taking Wuli (LI 13) near Chize and inserting five times. All refer to this point. Indications: Wind-consumption, fear and panic; hemoptysis and cough; lethargy; severe elbow and arm pain preventing movement; fullness and rebellious Qi; cold-heat scrofula; blurred vision; cold-heat malaria. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Bi'nao (LI 14), it cures scrofula.

Bi'nao (LI 14): Located 7 cun proximal to the elbow, at the end of the brachial muscle, 1 cun distal to Jianyu (LI 15), in the deep depression between two tendons and two bones, obtained with the arm relaxed. This is the Luo-Connecting point of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, connecting to the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. One view says it is the meeting point of Hand-Foot Taiyang and Yangwei Meridians. Needle depth: 3 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. *Mingtang* prohibits needling; moxibustion 7 zhu (one view says up to 100 zhu). Indications: Arm pain and weakness, cold-heat scrofula, neck and nape stiffness. *Qianjin Fang* states: Treats goiter; moxibustion according to age. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Wuli (LI 13), it cures scrofula.

Jianyu (LI 15) [also known as Zhong Jianjing, also known as Pian Jian]: Located on the shoulder tip, in the depression between the acromion and humerus, obtained by raising the arm which reveals a hollow space. It is the meeting point of the Hand-Taiyang, Hand-Yangming, and Yangqiao Meridians. One view says it is the meeting point of Foot-Shaoyang and Yangqiao Meridians. Needle depth: 6 fen; retain needle for six exhalations; moxibustion 3 to 49 zhu, until cured. Indications: Stroke and hemiplegia; shoulder and arm bone/muscle pain preventing overhead reach; persistent fever in cold damage; consumptive Qi loss, seminal emission, emaciation; limb heat; various goiters and scrofula. Historically, a patient with wind-bi, arm pain and weakness unable to draw a bow, was able to shoot an arrow after Zhen Quan inserted the needle here. If moxa is used for hemiplegia, use 7 to 49 zhu; do not exceed this to avoid arm atrophy. However, for chronic wind-disease with bone/muscle weakness, more moxa is acceptable as atrophy is not a concern; yet needling is superior to moxa. Avoid alcohol, meat, and five pungent spices. This point primarily clears heat from the four limbs, with indications similar to Yunmen (LU 2), Weizhong (BL 40), and Yaoshu (DU 2). *Qianjin Fang* states: For goiter, moxa equally on left and right: Male Left 18, Right 17; Female Right 18, Left 17; repeat until cured. *Yulong Fu* states: Treats wind-dampness binding in both shoulders. *Tianxing Mijue* states: For arm spasm and pain, select Jianyu (LI 15). *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Yangxi (LI 5), it eliminates extreme heat from urticaria.

Jugu (LI 6): Located in the depression between the bifurcated bones above the shoulder apex. It is the meeting point of the Hand-Yangming and Yangqiao Meridians. Needle depth: 1.5 cun; moxibustion 3 or 5 zhu. One view prohibits needling. Indications: Fright and epilepsy with hemoptysis, blood stasis in the chest, arm pain preventing flexion and extension.

Tianding (LI 16): Located in the neck, above the clavicle, directly 1 cun posterior to Futu (LI 18). *Jia Yi Jing* states: Directly 1.5 cun posterior to Futu and Qishe. *Qifu Lun Zhu* states: 0.5 cun posterior to Futu. Needle depth: 3 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Throat obstruction with swollen throat preventing eating, sudden aphonia and Qi blockage. *Baizheng Fu* states: Combined with Jianshi (PC 5), it treats aphonia.

Futu (LI 18) [also known as Shui Xue]: Located in the neck, 1 cun below the angle of the jaw. *Jia Yi Jing* states: 1.5 cun posterior to Renying (ST 9), obtained with head tilted back. One view says 1.5 cun posterior to Qishe (ST 14). From here, it ascends through the cheek into the lower teeth. Needle depth: 4 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. *Jia Yi Jing* states: Needle 3 fen. Indications: Cough with excessive saliva, rebellious Qi and wheezing, sound in throat like a water fowl, sudden aphonia, broken Qi, neck goiter.

Heliao (LI 17) [also known as Chang Pin]: Directly below the nostril, 0.5 cun lateral to the Philtrum (Sishencong/Gov). Needle depth: 3 fen; moxibustion: 3 zhu. Indications: Corpse-jue with inability to open mouth, nasal sores and polyps, nasal congestion and epistaxis. *Lingguang Fu* states: Prick both Heliao (LI 17) points to treat epistaxis.

Yingxiang (LI 20) [also known as Chongyang]: Located 1 cun proximal to Heliao (LI 17), 0.5 cun lateral to the nostril. It is the meeting point of the Hand-Yangming and Foot-Yangming Meridians. Needle depth: 3 fen; **Moxibustion Contraindicated**. Indications: Nasal congestion with loss of smell, polyps with excessive discharge, sores and epistaxis, dyspnea, hemifacial paralysis, edema, wind-induced facial itching resembling insect crawling. *Yulong Fu* states: Clears redness from eye heat. Most effective for clearing nasal obstruction. *Xi Hong Fu* states: For deafness and Qi stagnation, needle Tinghui (GB 2), and additionally reduce this point (Yingxiang).